Community

HIV Infection

It is the policy of Carleton College, to the extent of its control and ability, to facilitate the prevention of HIV infection and the mitigation of its consequences to both infected and non-infected persons.

The College also recognizes that persons with HIV infection are often further afflicted with a public ignorance, fear, and stigma that does not attend to other, more contagious, diseases. Therefore, the College:

does not require HIV testing as a condition of admission or employment,

does not restrict the activities of those known to have HIV infection,

does not tolerate discrimination against or harassment of those with HIV infection,

considers those with HIV infection as included under the College's general policies with respect to disability, and

treats knowledge of HIV infection cases on campus with confidentiality.

This policy applies to all those employed by or enrolled in the College and is subject to laws in effect from time to time.

Response and Procedures

PREVENTION
Faculty, staff, and students share the responsibility to prevent the spread of HIV infection. The primary response to HIV infection must be education. This includes both those with the disease and those not afflicted with the disease. Education about HIV infection is not only central to prevention but also to creating a proper campus atmosphere free from discrimination and unwarranted fear. Human Resources, Health Service, the Office of the Dean of Students, and the Office of the Chaplain will assist in providing information regarding HIV infection to all members of the community and developing a plan for general education, identification of risk, and intervention. The Director of College Health has a particular opportunity to counsel and inform the College community on how to minimize the risk of spreading infection.

Current medical experience indicates that students and employees in the normal academic setting of classrooms, residence halls, student unions, gymnasiums, swimming pools, and other recreational facilities, and other common areas, do not face a significant risk from those with HIV infection. Therefore, the College will not restrict the normal activities of those with HIV infection. If in the judgment of the Director of College Health, however, a person with HIV infection is engaged in an activity that poses a significant risk to either the infected person or another member of the community, the Director will take appropriate action. If the College becomes aware of activity that poses a significant risk of exposure, the College also reserves the right, following appropriate medical consultation, to take whatever actions are, in its judgment, necessary or appropriate to protect either the infected person or another member of the community from exposure to infection. Both the College and the Director will act in accordance with current legal and ethical principles.

It is the responsibility of departmental managers, coaches, and laboratory supervisors, first, to ensure that employees or students engaged in activities under their supervision that might render people susceptible to the transmission of HIV have access to information concerning the nature of HIV transmission and how it relates to their specific jobs or activities and, second, to monitor their employees and students concerning use of any proper, established procedures for those jobs or activities.

SUPPORT SERVICES
The College has support services through which concerned persons can receive counseling, assistance in locating and using social services, and referrals for further assistance, such as Health Service, Counseling Services, the Employee Assistance Program, Office of the Chaplain, etc.

DISCRIMINATION
HIV infection is considered a disability under federal civil rights laws. This includes protection from harassment and provision of reasonable accommodation for education and employment. Refer to either the Student, Faculty, or Staff Handbook for the Statement of Non-Discrimination and the Statement on Discrimination and Academic Freedom.

CONFIDENTIALITY
All information regarding HIV infection of students of employees will be considered confidential. Except as required by law, necessary to administer College benefit programs, or otherwise fulfill the legitimate obligations of the College, this information will be given out only to parties authorized by the specific, written permission of the HIV-infected employee or student. The duty of physicians and other health care providers to maintain the confidentiality of information may be superseded by their legal requirement to others in certain specific circumstances.